The Arts Council has said it needs an extra €20 million in funding from the Government for 2008.
The State agency said demand for support for projects and events next year was already exceeding €130 million, and that this demand for funding was €60 million more than was available to it in 2007.
Applications for funding have been received from every county in Ireland, with some 1,700 applications received across the programmes funded by the Arts Council.
Arts Council chair Olive Braiden said the body had received 384 applications seeking more than €84 million. These applications are from major festivals, venues, resource organisations and production companies.
Some 301 have also been received from small festivals who have asked for nearly €3 million. A total of 250 applications have been received for the one-off projects which have requested over €10 million.
The Arts Council said it also has many existing commitments that it must fund in 2008 - including Aosdána, Deis and The Travel and Training Awards - reaching €2 million.
The Abbey theatre will also receive €10 million in 2008 as part of an exceptional three-year arrangement.
"We acknowledge that there are many competing forces in the economy, but we must remember that the arts have a unique value to society," Ms Braiden said.
"We expect the Government to increase our funding by €20 million to €100 million in accordance with partnership for the arts," Ms Braiden added.